CRP and fibrosis: Patients with NASH had significantly elevated serum hs-CRP (P < 0.0048) and increased intrahepatic expression of the CRP mRNA (P = 0.0228) than those with simple steatosis. In addition, patients with advanced fibrosis stages (F3–4) had a significantly higher serum hs-CRP than those with mild (F1–2) (P < 0.0384), even after adjustment for confounders